December 15, 2025
HOME FOR CHRISTMAS
Here at the Communion table, we gather as wanderers who have come home and are part of God’s forever family: his church.
Articles for tag: Immanuel
December 14, 2020
Discovery Questions for December 20, 2020
COMPANION RESOURCES Lesson for Dec. 20, 2020: Fulfilled through Promise (Matthew 2:1-15) “The Day I Visited a King’s Palace” by David Faust (Lesson Application) ________ Study Questions for Groups By Michael C. Mack 1. What challenge did you face last week? 2. In what way did you tell others about Jesus (“the Lord saves”) and Immanuel (“God is with us”) last week? Ask three people—two readers and one reteller—to help. Ask the readers to read Matthew 2:1-15 one after the other, preferably from different Bible versions. Ask the third person to retell the story as if sharing it with a
December 7, 2020
Lesson for Dec. 13, 2020: Fulfilled through Love (Matthew 1:18-25; 22:34-40)
Dr. Mark Scott wrote this treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson. Scott teaches preaching and New Testament at Ozark Christian College, Joplin, Missouri. This lesson treatment is published in the December 2020 issue of Christian Standard + The Lookout. (Subscribe to our print edition.) ________ “The Second Choice” by David Faust (Lesson Application) Discovery Questions for Dec. 13, 2020 ________ Lesson Aim: Let the birth of Jesus lead you to live by love. ________ By Mark Scott How does Christmas affect your love life? The question is not about how Christmas affects the present you buy for the love
December 7, 2020
Discovery Questions for December 13, 2020
COMPANION RESOURCES Lesson for Dec. 13, 2020: Fulfilled through Love (Matthew 1:18-25; 22:34-40) “The Second Choice” by David Faust (Lesson Application) ________ Study Questions for Groups By Michael C. Mack 1. What from this past week would you like to thank God for? 2. In what way did you bear fruit over the last week? Ask three people—two readers and one reteller—to help. Ask the readers to read Matthew 1:18-25 one after the other, preferably from different Bible versions. Ask the third person to retell the story as if telling it to a group of high school students. Then ask
November 22, 2020
Our Powerful, Eternal Prince of Peace (A Study of Isaiah 9)
Three Timely Truths We Desperately Need Today I love Hallmark Christmas movies. I can imagine that, this year, Hallmark might air A Very COVID Christmas, where a newly single woman—who used to live in the big city and work for a huge company—moves back to her small hometown to sell the house she grew up in after the recent death of her mother . . . and then the pandemic hits! While quarantined in her childhood home, she has meals delivered from her favorite local diner by a food delivery service. The delivery guy—a recently widowed and now single father
December 8, 2017
The Christmas Story Is Our Story
By Michael C. Mack Editors probably shouldn”t have a “favorite” issue. After all, I think every issue of Christian Standard has incredibly well-written stories. However . . . I really love this one! Perhaps it”s because the Christmas season brings out so many sentimental memories for me. Or maybe it”s because this issue has lots of awe-inspiring stories about family. Dave Stone, Kyle Idleman, and Rusty Russell tell stories of how their parents blessed them and their ministries. Joe Harvey shares how he and Val have blessed their daughter Mandy, and how she in turn is blessing them. We have
December 11, 2016
Mystery, Model, Hope
By Chad Ragsdale Difficult to comprehend, frustrating to explain, the fact that God became flesh is central to our faith. And he did it through the birth of a baby to a virgin. Sometimes I wonder what Christmas at Job”s house would have been like. Holidays can be especially difficult for families living in the wake of tragedy. The songs, parties, and decorations might have the opposite of their intended effect. Rather than inspiring goodwill and joy, they only amplify loss and grief. So try to imagine living through Job”s unimaginable loss while also navigating the joy, festivity, and family
July 10, 2016
The Gospel: God”s Better Story
By Rubel Shelly The Bible is a six-act drama reflecting the light of our Creator. Ivan Illich (1926″“2002) was an Austrian philosopher and former Catholic priest. As he became increasingly critical of modern education, consumerism, health care, and Western social values in general, he pondered the larger question of how to change society. When asked whether violent revolution or gradual reform was the better way to effect change, he replied: Neither revolution nor reformation can ultimately change a society, rather you must tell a new powerful tale, one so persuasive that it sweeps away the old myths and becomes the preferred story, one so inclusive
December 20, 2015
The Sights, Sounds, and Smells of Christmas
By Bob Mink The Christmas season is a special time of year for almost everyone””especially its sights, sounds, and smells. Who doesn”t like the smell of a fresh-cut tree or of cookies baking? Who doesn”t appreciate a “Merry Christmas” greeting or festive holiday music? Who isn”t drawn to the lights and decorations? I enjoy all these at Christmastime every year. And why not? Christians can decorate a tree, bake special cookies, and give gifts all while fully embracing the meaning in the birth of Jesus. And maybe thinking about the sights, sounds, and smells of that first Christmas can make
December 19, 2015
The Gospel in Minor Key
By Mark Scott These sometimes-overlooked prophets are anything but minor when it comes to the Christmas message. The Melody The Major Prophets of the Old Testament get lots of press at Christmastime. Rightly so. They carry the melody line in the Christmas story. Isaiah gave King Ahaz the gospel with these words, “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14*). Isaiah gave the tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali even more good news: “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great
March 3, 2014
Lesson for March 9, 2014: Son of David (Psalm 89; Isaiah 9:1-7; Matthew 1:18″“2:6; Luke 1:26-33)
This treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson is written by Sam E. Stone, former editor of CHRISTIAN STANDARD. ______ By Sam E. Stone Today”s lesson is based on three passages of Scripture. Psalm 89 affirms God”s faithfulness in keeping his amazing promise to David (2 Samuel 7) that we studied last week. There he assured David that he would have a place of greatness, that his offspring would succeed him, and that his kingdom would be established forever. Next, one of the key messianic prophecies is cited. Isaiah assures the people that Immanuel will remain beside them””literally “God with
November 25, 2013
Lesson for December 1, 2013: The Angel Foretells Jesus” Birth (Luke 1:26-45)
By Sam E. Stone For the next two months our lessons are taken from Luke”s Gospel, presenting “Jesus and the Just Reign of God.” Luke is the longest of the four Gospels and, in fact, is the longest book in the New Testament. Angels are shown throughout to be special messengers from God. Early in chapter one, Luke records the visit of the angel Gabriel when he brought hope to a priest, Zechariah (Luke 1:8-23). He and his wife, Elizabeth, had no children and they were “both well along in years.” The angel told him his wife would bear a
November 3, 2013
Seven Ways Your Small Group Can Celebrate the Incarnation This Holiday Season
By Michael C. Mack Many groups struggle with meeting and studying over the holidays, and this can be detrimental to the health of your group. Not only that, but this is a prime time of the year to help your group members grow in their faith and invite new people. Perhaps your group will take a break from its normal schedule, but that”s no reason to stop meeting. Here are seven ideas for how your small group can get the most””and give the most””from Thanksgiving through New Year”s. 1. Experience Christmas. This is one of the most wonderful times
June 3, 2013
Lesson for June 9, 2013: Worship with Thanksgiving (Isaiah 12)
By Sam E. Stone The apostle Paul told Christians, “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). This is undoubtedly good advice, but it is often difficult to do. When Isaiah warned the people of God”s coming judgment on the nation of Israel, he gave them a similar message. In last week”s lesson we studied Isaiah”s call to the prophetic ministry (Isaiah 6). The chapters that follow (7-11) foretell the coming of Immanuel, the Messiah. This is good news! But along with these words of hope, Isaiah also described God”s coming punishment for his unbelieving
August 6, 2012
Lesson for August 12, 2012: God Promised a Righteous Lord (Isaiah 9:1-7)
This treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson is written by Sam E. Stone, former editor of CHRISTIAN STANDARD. ______ By Sam E. Stone Today”s text is one most readers associate with the Christmas season. It pictures the coming of Jesus (the Messiah) into the world. Today we see it is also a prophecy that goes back long before that. To the original audience””the people to whom Isaiah spoke””it simply meant hope for the future. Isaiah predicted the coming attacks of Assyria upon the nation (chapters 7-12). King Ahaz was inexperienced and fearful. Things did not look good for his
December 24, 2006
O Come Let Us Adore Him
By Jackina Stark “”Tis the season to be BUSY.” The way-too-much-to-do usually begins the day after Thanksgiving. Or is the Christmas holiday stressful for only me? Just making my gift lists can wear me out, despite the fact one son-in-law never wants anything but a gift certificate. And most years rushing from store to store to purchase these gifts is a misery, with or without gale winds whipping icy snow into my face. And then, of course, those gifts I”ve toted home and hidden eventually have to be found and wrapped. I”m thrilled, of course, that my husband Tony wraps
